Welcome to "Ask the White House" -- an online interactive forum where you
can submit questions to Administration officials and friends of the White
House. Visit the "Ask the White House" archives to
read other discussions with White House officials.

Lauchlin, from Dayton, OH
writes: I believe the current color system for terror alerts is
quite confusing
and
a little silly. Why was a color system picked? What were the other
options
discussed? Thanks for your response.

Frances Fragos TownsendHi Lauchlin

Although I was not in this job when this system was developed, the color
system helps state and local authorities who have responsibilities in
their area for security understand what protective measures need to be
taken based on the level of alert.

The state and local authorities are really the primary audience for the
system.

We also hope that it helps the public to know when we need their
assistance in reporting suspicious activity.

As a mother of two children, I want as much information as possible so I
can make the best decisions for my family and I believe that is how most
Americans feel which is why we do it.

Luke, from Atlanta writes: With all the information
you must read, does balancing the safety of
U.S.
citizens and protecting their personal freedoms become a difficult line
to walk? And if so, how? Thanks

Frances Fragos TownsendAS Americans our nation is defined by
civil liberties that are enshrined in our constitution. It is critically
important that we strike an effective balance between increasing security
and protecting civil liberties. This is something we strive to do
everyday.

Just to give you an example, the Patriot Act is an effective tool to keep
the nation safe but at the same time inside the Justice Dept there is the
Inspector General to investigate privacy and civil liberties violations.

Since the passage of the Patriot Act, there has not been a single founded
complaint to the Inspector General that I am aware of. But it is
important that we have that mechanism in place to ensure that the
government doesn't overstep its bounds.

Vaughn, from Huntington. New York
writes: The nation's terror alert system does not seem to be
working. Warning
levels are raised, apparently, at the whim of the director and are based
on
data that is up to four years old. Also, they seem to be timed carefully
to
bolster the Bush Administration's image. Lord knows we're sitting ducks
anyway, given such poor security at our ports and the depleted state of
our
National Guard. Isn't this system really a political tool used to
sensationalize terrorism (thereby taking the focus off domestic issues)
and to allow the Bush Administration an opportunity to send a false
sense of
security to the nation?

Frances Fragos TownsendThank you for asking this question
because I think it is important that we set the record straight.

The recent terror alert was issued on the basis of several streams of
credible intelligence reporting including , but by no means limited to,
these casing reports.

There is much more recent information that taken in conjunction with these
casing reports led us to alert the financial sector in Washington, New
York and New Jersey to this potential threat.

Casing and surveillance files from Al Qaida are vitally important for a
number of reasons regardless of their age. In the 1998 East Africa
bombings, Al Qaida operatives cased 15 potential targets in Kenya in
December of 1993.

As we know from the 9/11 Commission Report, planning for the 9/11 attack
began more than five years beforehand. So what we have learned is that
regardless of how old the casing is, is no indication of when Al Qaida may
use it to strike.

Beyond that, it is important to understand how Al Qaida thinks and looks
at potential targets so we can close those vulnerabilities at home.

You should also know that the alert was issued within days of our having
received those casing reports.

David, from Huntsville, AL writes: What ooportunities
do citizens have at the local level to participate in
Homeland Security?

Frances Fragos TownsendHi David

There is a great opportunity to get involved in homeland security at a
local level by participating in the Citizen Corps program, part of the
President's service agenda.

Citizen Corps Councils bring together leaders from law enforcement, fire,
emergency medical and management agencies, local elected officials,
volunteer organizations and the private sector to strengthen Citizen Corps
programs at the state and local level and engage citizens in homeland
security.

Jaime, from Elkridge, MD
writes: Ms. Townsend, How is your role different than that of
homeland security
secretary Ridge? Thank-you for helping President Bush and our country in
these extremely frightening times; may God bless you all.

Frances Fragos TownsendHello Jaime

Tom Ridge is the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The
department is comprised of over 180,000 people with 22 different agencies
ranging from the Coast Guard to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement to the Transportation Security Administration.

DHS personnel are posted around the country and around the world.

The President, working with Congress, created DHS in response to 9/11 to
provide a single federal department to manage many of the key agencies
involved in the homeland security effort.

It was the largest reorganization of the federal government since the
Defense Department was created after WWII.

While Secretary Ridge is at the Department of Homeland Security, my job
within the White House is to run the Homeland Security Council. Just as
the President has a national security staff led by Dr. Rice, in the
aftermath of September 11 he created a Homeland Security Council and
charged it with coordinating all homeland security programs across the
federal government, this includes coordinating efforts between DHS, the
Department of Justice, the FBI, the CIA, Department of Health and Human
Services, and other federal departments responsible for homeland security.

My job is to ensure that the agencies are working well together and to
advise the President on all homeland security policy.

Tara, from Tahoona, PA
writes: Dear Frances
Thank you so much for doing a great job. I am a concerned mother of
three
children. I was wondering whether you feel that America is more secure
now
than before Sept 11th. I just cannot understand what drives people to
hate
this country so much.

Frances Fragos TownsendAs the President and the 9/11
Commission have both said, we are safer today than we were on September 11
but we are not yet safe. We have taken the most sweeping actions to
increase homeland security since WWII including the largest reorganization
of the government since 1947 with the creation of the Department of
Homeland Security.

We are transforming the FBI to give it the primary mission of preventing
terrorist attacks, we established the Terrorist Threat Integration Center
to integrate and analyze both foreign and domestic intelligence on global
terror -- giving the President and other senior officials a more complete
picture of the threats facing our nation.

We have also, with the USA Patriot Act, strengthened law enforcement's
abilities to prevent, investigate and prosecute terrorism.

I'm a parent too and the depth of the hatred that the terrorists have for
our freedoms can be frightening to people. That is why we are doing
everything we can today to make our country and the world our children
will inherit safer.

Ric, from Silverdale, WA writes: Where, in the White
House.gov website can I find a copy of the
September, 17,
2000 National Security Strategy document?

Alexander, from New York
writes: What is the time line for implement the September 11th
Commission's
recomendation? Does the President disagree with any of the
recommendations?

Thanks for your time,
Alex

Frances Fragos TownsendThanks for your question. The 9/11
Commission report is a very helpful document. The Commission did
important work and we welcome their findings.

The Commission found that we have already made significant strides in a
number of critical areas. But, like the President, the Commission
believes that we still have more work to do.

We are actively moving forward to implement many of the Commission's
recommendations . For example, earlier this week the President announced
his support for two of the Commission's recommendations -- the creation of
a National Intelligence Director and the creation of a National
Counterterrorism Center.

Some of the recommendations can be done relatively soon. Others will
require legislative action working closely with Congress. Congress has
already begun the important work of hearings that will lead to
legislation.

We're pleased that good progress has already been made and we will
continue to work closely with Congress to implement these important
reforms.

Julie, from Michigan writes: I am planning a family
vacation next week to the Washington DC with my
family.I am not generally an alarmist but the heightened security level
has made me wonder whether or not we should still plan to visit the
city. I
have two boys 9 and 10 who I want to have a great experience learning
about our
nation and its wonderful history and concerned that now might not be the
time to go to visit DC. Can you give me any insight?

Thank you.

Frances Fragos TownsendWashington is a great place to visit
and we encourage you to come. As someone who both lives and works in
Washington, I can tell you that the monuments, the Smithsonians and the
many other attractions are great for a family vacation. We have a strong
working relationship with Mayor Williams and the Washington Police
Department.

I can assure you that they are doing a great job in protecting the city
along with many hard working federal law enforcement officials.

Tiffany, from Charlotte NC writes: In the last
announcement of terror threats last Monday, there was a
great
deal of focus on the financial institutions. However, as much as
Charlotte
is a fixture in the banking world, nothing was mentioned about it. Is it
not
considered a target or just simply not as big or weak a target as the
other
places mentioned?

Frances Fragos TownsendIn Secretary Ridge's announcement
last week, of the five financial institutions that he referred to the
terrorist alert, none were in Charlotte, NC.
However, the Department of Homeland Security issued guidance and suggested
protective measures to financial institutions throughout the country.

Based on the intelligence DHS suggested specific measures that financial
institutions should consider taking to better protect themselves. And we
have received very favorable responses from the financial community.

Robert, from Pilot Point, Texas
writes: How will the office of a new "Intelligence Czar" interact
with Homeland
Security? It appears to me that without good, well understood processes
for intelligence within and between the FBI, CIA, DEA, etc. and then to
Homeland Security we will have the same problems we have now.

Frances Fragos TownsendGood question, Robert.

First, we've already done a great deal to strengthen our intelligence
capabilities, particularly as they relate to protecting the homeland.
President Bush created the Terrorist Threat Integration Center which helps
to integrate and analyze the foreign and domestic intelligence on global
terror.

These analyses are used by the President, Secretary Ridge and the
Department of Homeland Security along with other key departments and
agencies to assess the threats that our nation faces.

The new National Intelligence Director will further enhance our ability to
integrate the intelligence on the threats to our nation's security. By
creating the new Director position, we will ensure that every President
has the best unbiased, unvarnished and complete assessment of the
intelligence community.

We believe it will enhance the ability of the FBI, CIA and other federal
intelligence agencies to effectively do their work.

Ryan, from Hoffman Estates writes: With the heighten
state of alert in Washington D.C., New York City, and
Newark are there any plans to raise the alert status throughout the
entire
country? What are Secretary Ridge's plans after the election?

Frances Fragos TownsendWe constantly evaluate the
intelligence reporting and assess the threat level based on that
information. One of the interesting things about the alert issued by
Secretary Ridge on Sunday is that it shows how we've made the color coded
alert system more flexible and targeted based on the information that we
are receiving.

Frances Fragos Townsend
I really enjoyed taking your questions today. It was a great opportunity
to hear what's on the minds of the public. I look forward to doing this
again. God bless you and God bless America.